Mets, Mejia moving past drug suspension

Anthony Casa

07/08/2015

The New York Mets reinstated Jenry Mejia following his 80-game drug suspension and optioned reliever Logan Verrett to Triple-A Las Vegas. While both Mejia and his team have put his suspension in the past, did the front office make the right move by demoting a promising young arm like Verrett?

The Mets have activated Jenrry Mejia Tuesday, and it should not be long before manager Terry Collins trusts him enough to use him in high pressure situations again. The Mets have also optioned Logan Verrett to their triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s, despite a 0.73 ERA in his six appearances.

Mejia did not make a public apology, however he did apologize privately to some of his teammates for missing 80-games due to a suspension for performance enhancing drugs, in a season where the Mets have been plagued by injuries and lost players.

Many Mets players accepted his apology and expressed their forgiveness to the media. Teammate and fellow bullpen member, Bobby Parnell vouched for his fellow reliever.

"He's a good person,” said Parnell of Mejia. “He's genuine. When a guy like that apologizes, it's sincere. I don't think he's blowing smoke up our butts. He's here to pitch."

Mejia and the rest of the Mets personnel will look to put the incident behind them. Mejia refused to answer questions about how the banned substance, Stanozol, got into his system.

"That was in the past,” noted Mejia. “It is what it is. I did what I did. Now I come here to move forward and do the best I can on the field.”

Even the Mets front office feels like they can move on from the suspension. General Manager, Sandy Alderson seems to have turned the page.

"He made a mistake,” said Alderson. “He admitted that. He’s paid a penalty. Whether I think he needs to express some public contrition or not? I know that privately, he’s done so. I’ve talked to him, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

If Majia is able to contribute to the team like he did out of the bullpen last year, his actions could speak loud enough to put this behind him. Other than Jeurys Familia, the bullpen has struggled in late innings and close games. Several times Collins has brought in Familia in the eighth inning because he does not have much faith in other set-up man. Now with Majia back Collins could have a solid set up man, to support Familia and lock down tight, late inning games.

In 56 appearances out of the bullpen last year, Mejia posted a 2.72 ERA. It will take a lot to put this suspension behind him but Mejia seems to be up to the challenge. In the six innings he played in the minors before coming back he stuck out 10 and only allowed one run.

The Mets have activated Jenrry Mejia Tuesday, and it should not be long before manager Terry Collins trusts him enough to use him in high pressure situations again. The Mets have also optioned Logan Verrett to their triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s, despite a 0.73 ERA in his six appearances.

Mejia did not make a public apology, however he did apologize privately to some of his teammates for missing 80-games due to a suspension for performance enhancing drugs, in a season where the Mets have been plagued by injuries and lost players.

Many Mets players accepted his apology and expressed their forgiveness to the media. Teammate and fellow bullpen member, Bobby Parnell vouched for his fellow reliever.

\"He's a good person,” said Parnell of Mejia. “He's genuine. When a guy like that apologizes, it's sincere. I don't think he's blowing smoke up our butts. He's here to pitch.\"

Mejia and the rest of the Mets personnel will look to put the incident behind them. Mejia refused to answer questions about how the banned substance, Stanozol, got into his system.

\"That was in the past,” noted Mejia. “It is what it is. I did what I did. Now I come here to move forward and do the best I can on the field.”

Even the Mets front office feels like they can move on from the suspension. General Manager, Sandy Alderson seems to have turned the page.

\"He made a mistake,” said Alderson. “He admitted that. He’s paid a penalty. Whether I think he needs to express some public contrition or not? I know that privately, he’s done so. I’ve talked to him, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”

If Majia is able to contribute to the team like he did out of the bullpen last year, his actions could speak loud enough to put this behind him. Other than Jeurys Familia, the bullpen has struggled in late innings and close games. Several times Collins has brought in Familia in the eighth inning because he does not have much faith in other set-up man. Now with Majia back Collins could have a solid set up man, to support Familia and lock down tight, late inning games.

In 56 appearances out of the bullpen last year, Mejia posted a 2.72 ERA. It will take a lot to put this suspension behind him but Mejia seems to be up to the challenge. In the six innings he played in the minors before coming back he stuck out 10 and only allowed one run.